Incidence of post-anesthetic colic in non-fasted adult equine patients.

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of post-anesthetic colic in non-fasted adult horses undergoing isoflurane inhalant anesthesia for an elective, non-abdominal procedure at a single referral center. Medical records were searched from May 1, 2012 to May 31, 2014. Inclusion criteria included non-fasted patients ≥ 2 years of age that were anesthetized for an elective, non-abdominal procedure. The incidence of post-anesthetic colic for this study population was 2.5%. None of the risk factors examined (season, age, gender, breed, surgeon, procedure, recumbency, butorphanol administration, additional surgical complications, and the length of anesthesia) were associated with an increased risk of post-anesthetic colic. Providing food may maintain normal gastrointestinal motility and may decrease the risk of post-anesthetic colic.

Incidence des coliques post-anesthésiques chez des patients équins adultes sans jeûne. Le but de cette étude consistait à déterminer l'incidence des coliques post-anesthésiques chez des chevaux adultes sans jeûne soumis à une anesthésie par inhalation d'isoflurane pour une intervention non abdominale non urgente dans un seul centre spécialisé. On a effectué des recherches dans les dossiers médicaux établis entre le 1er mai 2012 et le 31 mai 2014. Les critères d'inclusion incluaient les patients sans jeûne âgés de ≥ 2 ans qui avaient été anesthésiés pour une intervention non abdominale et non urgente. L'incidence des coliques post-anesthésiques pour cette population à l'étude a été de 2,5 %. Aucun des facteurs de risque examinés (saison, âge, sexe, race, chirurgien, intervention, décubitus, administration du butorphanol, complications chirurgicales additionnelles et durée de l'anesthésie) n'était associé à un risque accru de coliques post-anesthésiques. La nourriture peut préserver la motilité gastro-intestinale et réduire le risque de coliques post-anesthésiques.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Clinical outcome of collateral ligament injuries of the tarsus.

The significance of collateral ligament desmitis of the tarsocrural joint is often clinically underestimated, because it is an uncommon injury with a guarded prognosis for athletic soundness. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical presentation, treatment, and outcome of 12 horses with collateral ligament desmitis, along with tarsocrural joint synovitis secondary to hemarthrosis. Criteria for inclusion in this study included clinical signs of tarsocrural joint synovitis and sonographic evidence of collateral ligament desmitis. This retrospective study evaluated horses over an 8-year period. Median follow-up after treatment was 5.5 years. Four horses in the study returned to their previous level of performance, 6 horses remained lame due to pain in the tarsus, 1 was euthanized, and 1 is in convalescence. This study highlights the importance of collateral ligament desmitis, and emphasizes the need for early, aggressive treatment to prevent the development of osteoarthritis.

Viral testing of 18 consecutive cases of equine serum hepatitis: A prospective study (2014-2018).

BACKGROUND: Three flaviviruses (equine pegivirus [EPgV]; Theiler's disease-associated virus [TDAV]; non-primate hepacivirus [NPHV]) and equine parvovirus (EqPV-H) are present in equine blood products; the TDAV, NPHV, and EqPV-H have been suggested as potential causes of serum hepatitis. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of these viruses in horses with equine serum hepatitis. ANIMALS: Eighteen horses diagnosed with serum hepatitis, enrolled from US referral hospitals. METHODS: In the prospective case study, liver, serum, or both samples were tested for EPgV, TDAV, NPHV, and EqPV-H by PCR. RESULTS: Both liver tissue and serum were tested for 6 cases, serum only for 8 cases, and liver only for 4 cases. Twelve horses received tetanus antitoxin (TAT) 4-12.7 weeks (median = 8 weeks), 3 horses received commercial equine plasma 6-8.6 weeks, and 3 horses received allogenic stem cells 6.4-7.6 weeks before the onset of hepatic failure. All samples were TDAV negative. Two of 14 serum samples were NPHV-positive. Six of 14 serum samples were EPgV-positive. All liver samples were NPHV-negative and EPgV-negative. EqPV-H was detected in the serum (N = 8), liver (N = 4), or both samples (N = 6) of all 18 cases. The TAT of the same lot number was available for virologic testing in 10 of 12 TAT-associated cases, and all 10 samples were EqPV-H positive. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: We demonstrated EqPV-H in 18 consecutive cases of serum hepatitis. EPgV, TDAV, and NPHV were not consistently present. This information should encourage blood product manufacturers to test for EqPV-H and eliminate EqPV-H-infected horses from their donor herds.